Architecture, Engineering & Construction Forum
Speakers



Anthony T. Rinaldi (born February 8, 1965) is an American engineer, builder and businessman constructing and developing high-rise rental and condominium towers and hotels and large commercial projects throughout New York City, Westchester, New Jersey, Florida, and Arizona. On December 18, 2003, he founded and started The Rinaldi Group, LLC., a commercial general contracting and construction management firm located in Secaucus, New Jersey, just outside New York City’s Lincoln Tunnel. Today, The Rinaldi Group, LLC., maintains a book of business in excess of $750 million.

Daniel Piselli joined FXCollaborative in 2005. He was elevated to Director of Sustainability in 2018, where he leads the visioning and implementation of environmentally responsible design strategies for the firm. Dan has 20 years of experience, primarily as a project architect focused on sustainable building design. His projects include educational, cultural, residential, and infrastructure work, most recently the Statue of Liberty Museum, which is currently under construction. Dan has extensive experience on LEED projects in the US and internationally, and has pioneered exploration of Passive House at FXCollaborative. He co-authored a ground-breaking research study for NYSERDA entitled “Feasibility Study to Implement the Passive House Standard on Tall Residential Buildings” and is currently applying those principles to NYC public schools toward compliance with Local Law 31. Extending sustainability to ecology, Dan is also an industry leader on bird-friendly building design, and is a board member of the Bird-Safe Glass Foundation.

David Sturner is the President and CEO of MHP Real Estate Services. Since joining the firm in 1995, David has been largely responsible for the development and rapid growth of the services MHP offers its partners and third-party clients.
Under his guidance, the brokerage, project and asset management departments were formed, elevating David to the chief operating officer responsible for overseeing all of MHP’s operations for their commercial real estate portfolio consisting of more than 5 million sq. ft.
David’s hands-on approach has been instrumental in assembling due diligence for all acquisition opportunities. He evaluates each potential acquisition by extensively surveying the properties and reviewing all engineering reports to determine any/all outstanding capital expenditures that need to be addressed during the hold period for each asset.
In David’s current position as President and CEO, he now oversees all of MHP’s business including the brokerage division consisting of 35 dynamic sales and leasing professionals. David lends more than two decades of vast experience in construction management to MHP’s leasing agents to aid in meeting their client’s real estate requirements.
Prior to joining MHP, David got his start in construction management in 1989 when he joined Structure Tone, a top 20 general construction firm and the largest interior building contractor in the United States.
Mr. Sturner graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in Business Administration and is an active member of the Real Estate Board of New York.

Coming soon!





Jon is President and Founding Partner of TAD Associates where he is responsible for driving the direction of the firm and serving as a thought partner to TAD's clients.
His work includes the digital transformation and renovation of NBC's 30 Rockefeller Center, the experience design of NBA's new Flagship store, and the technology build standards for Citibank workplace across the globe.
Throughout Jon’s career, he has designed solutions that carefully consider their architectural, ecological, and experiential impacts. He passed his LEED certification when it first became available and now consults on how smart buildings improve the environment and create a better work life for tomorrows digital workforce.
TAD is a multidisciplinary design firm focused on illuminating the convergence of the digital and physical world by understanding the fundamentals of technology, architecture, and design.

As Principal, Marc Spector reframes the business of architecture to create value for design excellence and the profession through exemplary leadership. Moving the practice of architecture beyond traditional boundaries and market competition, Marc’s influential business model is built on: the creation of impactful life spaces regardless of project constraints, cultivation of client and team relationships into friendships, growth in new markets and services, and continual advancement of design innovation hand-in-hand with profitable business practices. Joining the firm in 1989, Marc earned his Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan and the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture. A passionate alumnus and invited guest lecturer and juror at the University of Michigan and the New York Institute of Technology, Marc shares his entrepreneurial expertise and teaches best business practices of successful architectural firms on the graduate level, bridging the theory-practice continuum. A passionate alumnus and invited guest lecturer and juror at the University of Michigan and Syracuse University and the New York Institute of Technology, Marc shares his entrepreneurial expertise and teaches best business practices of successful architectural.

As a co-founding Principal of Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel, Architects, DPC, Randolph Gerner is responsible for more than 10 million square feet of base building and interior design work. He has designed several high profile award-winning commercial, residential, and corporate buildings, as well as retail interiors. Some of his projects include The ARC, a 413,000 square foot residential building nearing completion in Long Island City, Ten23, a residential complex adjacent to the High Line, and 2 Cooper Square in Greenwich Village. His list of clients include Clarins, City Centre Properties, Savanna Real Estate Fund, Henry Schein, Inc., Viacom, MTV Networks, Sandell Asset Management, The Clarett Group, Equity Residential Properties, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Pershing Square Partners, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, Victor Homes and EMI Records.
Mr. Gerner recently completed an adaptive reuse project at 5 Beekman Street, a New York City Landmark, converting the landmark building into a hotel and residence. The project included not only the adaptive reuse of an historic structure, but also the construction of a new 600 foot tall residential condominium building.

Steven Winter, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, is Founder and Chairman of the Board of Steven Winter Associates, Inc. Mr. Winter has been at the forefront of the U.S. sustainable/green building movement since its beginnings. Under his guidance, SWA’s professionals have developed a range of client services in energy, sustainability, and other disciplines that have helped to improve the built environment since 1972. SWA has consulted on hundreds of building and community-scale projects, including a handful of landmark projects across the nation. The firm has also evolved into a widely-respected and sought-after building science team, and has led numerous research and development projects for government agencies, utilities, nonprofits and the private sector.
As Chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council from 1999 to 2003, Mr. Winter led the organization as its membership and influence skyrocketed with the launching of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) and Greenbuild.
Mr. Winter provides strategic planning for SWA research and consulting projects, in addition to managing the firm’s operations. He has served in several industry leadership positions, including as Co-Chair of LEED’s residential initiative and then as Chair of the LEED® for Homes™ Committee; he also served as an active member of the LEED Steering Committee. His personal expertise revolves around program management, green systems and products, energy efficient housing, and the U.S. housing industry.
Mr. Winter’s commitment to sharing industry best practices and building science innovation is also exemplified in his teaching at Columbia University and the Pratt Institute and his frequent contributions to industry publications. He earned the Evergreen Awards Perspective in 2009 and was named a “Hero of the Planet” by Builder Magazine in December 2002 for his contributions to sustainable building in the U.S.


Todd Sigaty is currently the Director of Business and Legal Affairs at SHoP Architects and in this capacity over the past decade has engaged and advised on numerous development projects and strategic ventures. Todd is also a Co-Founder and Board Member of a CRE tech start, “Envelope,” incubated at SHoP, which utilizes a 3-D mapping software and zoning engine to unlock real estate development potential and is managing SHoP’s new initiatve, in partnership with venture capital, on off-site manufacturing. Prior to SHoP, Todd was chief advisor on numerous land use and development projects in various countries with development banks, governments and civil society organizations, including the World Bank. Mr. Sigaty has taught business, law and planning at the Sotheby’s MA Program and the National University of Ireland and has lectured at Columbia, Yale and other institutions. He continues to act as a YLF Fellow with US-China for the National Committee on US and Chinese Relations and was also a Fellow at the Advocacy Institute in Washington D.C. Todd earned a J.D. from the University of Oregon Law School and a B.A. in History from the University of Texas (Austin) and studied International Policy and Planning at the University of Oregon Graduate School. Todd also owns a vineyard and wine bar in Oregonand loves Pinot, Pie and the Blazers.
Moderators





Aaron’s dedication, entrepreneurial drive and extensive knowledge of real estate development and the construction industry has made Home Evolutions Corp. what it is today. With over 20 years of experience in these industries, Aaron has implemented a transparent, technology-driven platform that provides a way for homeowners and developers to design and build their construction projects to budget without having to spend enormous amounts of time and money on redesigning and value engineering. In addition to knowing the importance of paying attention to detail, Aaron knows that helping real estate owners make smart, informed decisions and making sure his team is taken care of, is the key to a successful business.

Devin Kulka is a Professional Real Estate Investor, commercial contractor, and developer. Beginning as a concrete laborer, Devin has literally worked from the ground up. He has now been a key figure in several large-scale endeavors, including the building of Lumber Earth, Perfume Center of America, Contract Pharmacal, and the Hampton Inn of Rockville Centre.

Edward inherited the love and know-how of glass from his father and learned to etch glass while in his teens in Ukraine. Drawn full-time to the family enterprise soon after his college days, Edward has been the driving force behind growing CARVART to the full-service glass innovator it is today and is a hands-on CEO in all aspects of CARVART. Edward has a strong passion for the culinary arts, great design and having fun with his wife and two sons.

Jennifer McLean currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Kushner Companies. In this role, she oversees all Asset Management, Accounting, Human Resources and IT functions for the Company and all related entities/affiliates. She is responsible for monitoring and maximizing asset specific cash flow and financial performance. She also oversees all tax and compliance reporting, and maintains ongoing relationships with partners, agencies, development and operations to ensure the integrity of all financial data.
Prior to joining Kushner Companies, Ms. McLean has served in various Chief Financial Officer roles throughout her extensive career having been involved in the financial and operational oversight for every asset class throughout many major metropolitan markets of the United States. Over the course of her career, Ms. McLean has managed in excess of 75,000 residential units and 100 million square feet of property. Most recently she served as the Chief Financial Officer for GFI Capital, a New York based owner, developer and manager of commercial real estate.
Ms. McLean holds dual bachelor’s degrees in accounting and international studies/economics from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in finance from Wayne State University. Ms. McLean is a member of several professional organizations including the National Apartment Association (NAA), the New York Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSCPA), and WX Women Executives in Real Estate. Ms. McLean has received numerous accolades throughout her career including being a past finalist for the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year award, being named to Crain’s Detroit Business “40 under 40” list and being recognized by Real Estate Forum as one of the most influential women in commercial real estate and one of the most influential women in New York. Most recently she was named as one of Biznow New York Power Women. She has previously sat on the Residential Real Estate Advisory Board of Virginia Tech University and on the Advisory Board for Sidestarter Ventures.
Sponsors
About
Join us as we connect with engineers, construction principals, and architects over gourmet bites, signature cocktails, and strategic networking. Afterward, you will take a seat at a roundtable discussion where speakers will lead industry focused conversations on topics of their expertise. The roundtable format creates an open atmosphere for valuable group discussion, which allows you to develop new relationships and explore potential partnerships and professional opportunities.
Agenda
6:00 - 7:00 PM | Dinner & Cocktail Reception
7:00 - 8:15 PM | Five Concurrent Breakout Sessions
8:15 - 9:00 PM | Post-Session Networking, Cocktails & Dessert
Questions about this event? Please email re@yjpnewyork.com
*Please note, this event is exclusively for individuals in the construction, engineering and architecture industries*
Agenda
Downtown Manhattan
This event starts on November 27th at 6:00 PM.
Partial Attendee List











































